Drinking Straw Device

ABSTRACT

A drinking straw device, comprising: a sealed tube ( 30 ); a corrugated pipe ( 16 ) disposed inside the tube ( 30 ), for being used as a drinking straw; a coolant ( 18 ), disposed in a space confined between the tube ( 30 ) and the corrugated pipe ( 16 ), for cooling the corrugated pipe ( 16 ); and a unidirectional valve ( 22 ), for allowing flow of beverage only from an inlet ( 14 ) of the corrugated pipe ( 16 ) to an outlet thereof ( 12 ); thereby providing a drinking device that instantly cools a beverage while it is being consumed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of drinking straws. More particularly, the invention relates to a drinking straw device.

BACKGROUND ART

Presently, in Western society, drinking cooled beverages is a common habit. As such, there is an object directed to cooling the beverage.

Unfortunately, cooling a beverage is a process that takes “substantial” time, i.e., a beverage cannot be cooled instantly. In addition, as a cooled beverage returns to room temperature, it must be stored in refrigerated surroundings until use, resulting in logistical problems, such as limited space in a refrigerator for storage.

It is common to solve the above-mentioned problems by using ice cubes, which are dipped into the beverage a few minutes before consuming it. However, this solution is problematic, as the ice cubes melt, and the resulting water dilutes the beverage, thereby defecting its taste.

All the methods described above have not yet provided satisfactory solutions to the problem of cooling a beverage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a drinking straw device, comprising:

-   -   a sealed tube (30);     -   a corrugated pipe (16) disposed inside the tube (30), for being         used as a drinking straw;     -   a coolant (18), disposed in a space confined between the tube         (30) and the corrugated pipe (16), for cooling the corrugated         pipe (16); and     -   a unidirectional valve (22), for allowing flow of beverage only         from an inlet (14) of the corrugated pipe (16) to an outlet         thereof (12);     -   thereby providing a drinking device that instantly cools a         beverage while it is being consumed.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a part of the tube (30) is in a bulb form, thereby increasing the space confined between the tube (30) and the corrugated pipe (16), and allowing increasing a length of the corrugated pipe (16).

According to one embodiment of the invention, a part of the space confined between the tube (30) and the corrugated pipe (16) is filled with gas, thereby compensating on loss of the space when the coolant increases its volume.

The corrugations are in a spiral form, a zigzag form, and so on.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the tube is made of stiff material.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the tube is made of elastic or flexible material.

Preferably, the coolant (18) comprises water; however, it can also comprise an antifreeze substance.

Preferably, the valve is in the form of an elastic funnel.

The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings:

FIG. 1 a is a perspective view of a drinking straw device 10′, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 b is a sectional view thereof.

FIG. 2 a is a perspective view of a drinking straw device 10″, according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 b is a transparent view thereof.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments (“best mode”), which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail.

A drinking straw is a short tube for transferring a beverage from its container to the mouth of a user by use of suction.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by a drinking straw device comprising: a sealed tube 30, for containing therein a coolant 18 such as ice; a drinking straw in the form of a corrugated pipe 16 disposed inside the sealed tube 30, for being cooled by the coolant 18 of tube 30; and a unidirectional valve 22 disposed at the corrugated pipe 16, for preventing beverage present in the corrugated pipe from withdrawing back, e.g., between subsequent suctions.

The corrugated pipe increases the area of the straw that comes into contact with coolant 18, and as such, provides a more instant cooling operation.

The corrugations may be in a spiral form, in a zigzag form, and so on. Actually, any corrugated form provides an individual cooling ability, which is derived from the dimensions of the tube and the dimensions of the corrugated pipe. A spiral form provides a more elongated pipe; however, it diminishes the space available for the coolant. A zigzag form provides a less elongated pipe; however, it increases the space available for the coolant. Actually, any design is a compromise between the coolant quantity and the contact area of the coolant to the corrugated pipe. As such, any new design has its own benefits and drawbacks.

Preferably, the coolant substance is water, as water is not a toxic material, and a design must take into consideration a situation of leakage of the coolant into the beverage. Also, antifreeze can be used with the water. Antifreeze is a liquid added to a cooling system of an automobile to ensure that the water within it does not freeze solid. Thus, in order to prevent freezing of a coolant in the form of water, antifreeze material can be used or added to the coolant.

The device is provided in two forms: a straight form of tube 30, and a bulb form thereof. The bulb form allows increasing the length of both, the corrugated pipe and the space available for the coolant, and as such, the beverage is cooled more intensely.

As mentioned, preferably, the coolant is water, as (a) water is not toxic (in case of leakage from the sealed tube), and (b) it can be cooled in a refrigerator. Thus, by using the present invention, a user need not store beverage containers in a refrigerator, but rather to store therein the drinking straw devices.

Tube 30 may be made of elastic material, in order to allow changing its form according to the volume of the coolant. Alternatively, the tube may be made of stiff material. In the latter case, some of the coolant space may be filled with air (gas in general), which can be compressed under the pressure generated when the coolant increases its volume.

FIG. 1 a is a perspective view of a drinking straw device 10′, according to one embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 1 b is a sectional view thereof. In these figures, the straw drinking device is disposed in a glass 28 containing beverage 32.

The drinking straw device according to this embodiment of the invention, which is marked in these figures by reference numeral 10′, comprises a sealed tube 30, into which is disposed a corrugated pipe 16, which performs the role of a straw of the prior art, i.e., used for transferring beverage from its container to the mouth of the consumer by use of suction.

The space between tube 30 and the corrugated pipe 16 is filled with coolant 18, such as water. The coolant can be cooled by placing the device in a refrigerator. As tube 30 is sealed, the coolant does not leak from the space.

At the lower side (in the figures orientation) is disposed an inlet 14 of pipe 16, from which the beverage enters into pipe 16.

At the upper side (in the figures orientation) of the device is disposed a mouthpiece 24, in which is disposed outlet 12 of the corrugated pipe 16.

In addition, at the lower side (in the figures orientation) of pipe 16 is disposed a unidirectional valve 22, which allows beverage to flow only from inlet 14 towards outlet 12.

Preferably, the valve is disposed at the lower side of pipe 16, but, if the inner diameter of pipe 16 is less than a certain size, the valve may be disposed in any location of the pipe as the capillarity of the beverage may prevent its withdrawal.

Preferably, the valve is in the form of an elastic funnel, such as made of rubber. When a user applies suction forces, beverage 32 enters into the wide side of the funnel, the flow overcomes the resistance of the elastic funnel, and the beverage passes from the wide side of the funnel, throughout the narrow side funnel, through the corrugated pipe 16, until exiting through outlet 12 thereof. When the suction forces cease, the elastic material the valve is made of causes the opening to close, thereby preventing the beverage within the corrugated pipe 16 from withdrawing back.

As mentioned above, the corrugations increase the length of pipe 16, and as a result, the contact area between the pipe and the surrounding coolant is increased, resulting in increased cooling ability. Thus, the beverage is instantly cooled while a user thereof drinks it.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an inlet from which coolant is inserted into the space between tube 30 and the corrugated pipe 16. Once a coolant has been filled, inlet 20 can be sealed.

Preferably, a part of the space in which coolant 18 is disposed is filled with air, since air can diminish its volume, in order to balance the increase of the volume of water at a temperature between 0 and 4 degrees (Anomalous properties of water). Due to this, the tube may be made of rigid material.

FIG. 2 a is a perspective view of a drinking straw device 10″, according to another embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 b is a transparent view thereof.

The difference between device 10′ and device 10″ is that device 10″ uses a bulb 26 as a part of tube 30. The bulb provides several advantages: it allows increasing the space between tube 30 and corrugated pipe 16 in which coolant 18 is disposed, and it allows increasing the length of the corrugated pipe 16. Thus, as a result of bulb 26, more coolant can be used, and the contact area between the corrugated pipe and the coolant can be increased. Thus, the bulb contributes to the instant cooling of the device.

In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals (Reference Signs List) have been mentioned:

-   -   numeral 10′ denotes a drinking straw device, according to one         embodiment of the invention;     -   numeral 10″ denotes a drinking straw device, according to         another embodiment of the invention;     -   numeral 12 denotes on outlet from which beverage exits the         device;     -   numeral 14 denotes on inlet from which beverage enters the         device;     -   numeral 16 denotes a drinking straw in the form of a corrugated         pipe;     -   numeral 18 denotes a coolant, such as water;     -   numeral 20 denotes an inlet for filling coolant into the space         confined between sealed tube 30 and the corrugated pipe 16;     -   numeral 22 denotes a unidirectional valve which allows beverage         to pass only from inlet 14 towards outlet 12 of the corrugated         pipe 16;     -   numeral 24 denotes a mouthpiece;     -   numeral 26 denotes a part of tube 30, having a bulb form;     -   numeral 28 denotes a glass;     -   numeral 30 denotes a sealed tube; and     -   numeral 32 denotes beverage.

The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form.

Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition.

The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form. 

1. A drinking straw device, comprising: a sealed tube (30); a corrugated pipe (16) disposed inside said tube (30), for being used as a drinking straw; a coolant (18), disposed in a space confined between said tube (30) and said corrugated pipe (16), for cooling said corrugated pipe (16); and a unidirectional valve (22), for allowing flow of beverage only from an inlet (14) of said corrugated pipe (16) to an outlet thereof (12); thereby providing a drinking device that instantly cools a beverage while being consumed.
 2. A drinking straw device according to claim 1, wherein a part of said tube (30) is in a bulb form, thereby increasing said space confined between said tube (30) and said corrugated pipe (16), and allowing increasing a length of said corrugated pipe (16).
 3. A drinking straw device according to claim 1, wherein a part of said space which is confined between said tube (30) and said corrugated pipe (16) is filled with gas, thereby compensating on loss of said space when said coolant increases its volume.
 4. A drinking straw device according to claim 1, wherein the corrugations are in a spiral form.
 5. A drinking straw device according to claim 1, wherein the corrugations are in a zigzag form.
 6. A drinking straw device according to claim 1, wherein said tube is made of stiff material.
 7. A drinking straw device according to claim 1, wherein said tube is made of elastic or flexible material.
 8. A drinking straw device according to claim 1, wherein said coolant (18) comprises water.
 9. A drinking straw device according to claim 8, wherein said coolant (18) comprises antifreeze.
 10. A drinking straw device according to claim 1, wherein said valve is made of an elastic funnel. 